Statement from Sen. Brian Weinstein on the Homeowners’ Bill of Rights

Senate Bill 6385 was not brought to a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives before today’s deadline for all bills to be approved by the opposite chamber of origin. Sen. Brian Weinstein, D-Mercer Island, the prime sponsor of the bill, has the following statement:

The BIAW [Building Industry Association of Washington] has been very successful in obstructing this bill, and I just think that’s a travesty.

But although we’ve passed an important deadline, we still have one week to go in the session. Senate counsel tells me nothing’s truly dead until the gavel falls, so I’m not giving up. This bill is too important.

For any of you who have seen the pictures of Sam Thalhamer standing in two feet of water under his brand new home on KOMO TV this week, it’s clear that the Legislature must join the community of states that provide legal remedies for shoddy construction.

There are still plenty of options on the table, and I’m prepared to explore them all. I’ve reached out to the Speaker. I will continue to reach out to the Speaker. I’m not here today to say anything negative about the Speaker.

I believe the Speaker is a man of his word. He’s said all session long that he’s committed to finding a solution to this problem, and we still have another week left to do that.

Any progress moving forward will have to involve the Speaker and his willingness to bring common sense protections to homeowners.

Any lack of progress moving forward will be a result of BIAW’s ability to stand in the way of the public good.

If the Legislature leaves town without passing this bill, you’re going to hear a lot more about BIAW’s obstructionism in the House.

But I’m hopeful we won’t even reach that point. There’s still a chance we can make sure this year that homeowners don’t have to take out a second mortgage on their home as a result of shoddy construction.

Return to Sen. Weinstein's home page